Khalid Jamil — The latest hope for Blue Tigers who ‘eats, drinks, and sleeps' football

The Hindu

3 days ago

An Indian serving as the full-time coach of the men's national football team has been a rare phenomenon in the last few decades. Since 1993, only two coaches have had the honour — Sukhwinder Singh and Savio Medeira.
On Friday, August 1, Khalid Jamil became the latest addition to that list.
'He's a man who eats, drinks, and sleeps football. It's very difficult to find someone like that,' former India goalkeeper Henry Menezes tells Sportstar.
Menezes was one of the most influential figures in setting up I-League side Mumbai FC, the now defunct club where Jamil began his coaching career.
ALSO READ | With Khalid Jamil, India ends 13-year wait for homegrown head coach
'Jamil thinks about nothing but football. Many people want to split their time 50 per cent on coaching and 50 per cent on other work. He is a 100 per cent guy — 99 per cent of which was passion and performance-oriented,' Menezes adds.
A midfielder-turned-coach, Jamil started his playing career at Mahindra United, learning from legendary India captain Syed Nayeemuddin, a runner-up at the 1964 AFC Asian Cup and bronze medallist at the 1970 Asian Games.
'He had a dual personality (when I met him). Outside the game, he was an obedient and disciplined boy. But once he got on the ground, he was fierce,' Menezes, who also spent time with Jamil at Mahindra, recalls.
A midfielder-turned-coach, Jamil started his playing career at Mahindra United, learning from legendary India captain Syed Nayeemuddin. | Photo Credit: Facebook/Khalid Jamil
Jamil went on to win the National Football League (2006) and IFA Shield (2006) once, along with the Federation Cup twice (2003, 2005) at Mahindra, where Menezes was the general manager.
So, when the former India goalkeeper decided to form a new club, Jamil was the go-to option to realise the dream. 'We picked him for Mumbai FC because we were bringing in some senior players. It was a new team entering the second division, and he was captain material,' Menezes says.
'He played for us for one season, helping the team qualify for the I-League. Then, he had minor injury issues. In the second year, we made him a player-cum-coach—handling the senior team while also managing the Under-19 side.'
A survival specialist
Jamil's appointment as India coach comes during turbulent times for the men's national team. A lowly ranking of 133 and no competitive wins since November 2023 present a firm challenge for the 48-year-old.
But that's a territory Jamil thrives in. With limited resources, he has repeatedly extracted the best from his players.
In his first coaching stint, he kept a financially struggling Mumbai FC afloat in India's top flight for seven consecutive seasons.
'He started taking the coaching role very seriously. We saw his leadership quality — that he could be the next big coach in the country,' Menezes explains.
Jamil exceeded all expectations—Aizawl won the 2016-17 I-League (37 points from 18 matches), finishing above Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, as well as defending champion Bengaluru FC. | Photo Credit: The Hindu
'Detailing is crucial for him, and hard work is something he never stops doing. He gets very intense on the field. His passion is unmatched, and when it comes to discipline, he spares no one. We saw his leadership qualities shine through.'
Jamil's pedigree earned him a job at another newly promoted I-League side, Aizawl FC. The Mizoram-based club had just earned promotion ahead of the 2015-16 season and was merely looking to survive.
Jamil exceeded all expectations—Aizawl won the 2016-17 I-League (37 points from 18 matches), finishing above Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, as well as defending champion Bengaluru FC.
'No one thought we would. It was just everyone working hard together—the coach trusting us and giving chances to everyone. We didn't believe it either, but we did it,' recalls Jayesh Rane, a member of that historic team.
Always has the players' back
Rane began his professional career under Jamil at Mumbai FC and followed him to the Northeast. Over his 13-year career, Rane has become a serial winner — three Indian Super League (ISL) titles and one I-League and Durand Cup trophy each.
'He handles youngsters very well. The key for young players is confidence—and that's what he gives them. When you know the coach trusts you, you give 100%, even more. That's his biggest strength,' Rane says.
In the Indian Super League (ISL), Jamil has continued scripting underdog stories — at NorthEast United in 2021 and at Jamshedpur FC over the last two seasons.
When Gerard Nus was sacked as NorthEast United coach, Jamil took charge mid-season and led the team on a 10-match unbeaten run to the semifinals.
Jamil poses with the I-League trophy alongside Ashutosh Mehta and Jayesh Rane during their Aizawl FC days. Both players were later brought into Jamshedpur by the coach. | Photo Credit: Facebook/Khalid Jamil
'He's the only Indian coach in the ISL for a reason. Though we weren't a big team, he ensured unity and took us deep into the tournament,' says VP Suhair, who played under Jamil at NorthEast United. 'He gives players a lot of freedom. Even within a set plan, he allows us to express ourselves.'
At Jamshedpur, he replaced Scott Cooper mid-season in 2023 and guided the team to the Super Cup quarterfinals within a month. The following season, despite having the second-lowest squad value in the ISL, Jamshedpur reached the Super Cup final and the ISL semifinals.
'He extracts 100 per cent from every player. If I'm not giving my all, he knows how to push me,' says Jamshedpur goalkeeper Albino Gomes.
Gomes had fallen off the radar of ISL clubs after an injury-ridden stint at Kerala Blasters, and was playing for Churchill Brothers and Sreenidi Deccan in the I-League — until Jamil called him up to Jamshedpur.
Under Jamil, Gomes became the ISL's all-time leader in penalty saves (six) and the only 'keeper with 100+ saves in a single season (102).
A trailblazer for Indian coaches
Jamil has shattered multiple stereotypes in Indian football — from the preference for foreign coaches in the ISL to the belief that success requires extravagant spending.
Now, he has a chance to break another: proving that Indian coaches can excel as national team managers in modern football.
Former India skipper Syed Nayeemuddin, a runner-up at the 1964 AFC Asian Cup and bronze medallist at the 1970 Asian Games, who later won the Arjuna and Dronacharya Awards. | Photo Credit: The Hindu
'We've seen Nayeemuddin. Khalid is cut from the same cloth — similar in hard work, playing style, passion, and character. But he's slightly ahead in terms of licensing and qualifications. If given a chance, he shouldn't be left alone,' Menezes says.
'If one Indian coach succeeds, it will inspire others. We saw Manolo take on the national team role, but he couldn't succeed. Why not try Khalid now?'
The Blue Tigers were once Asian champions under an Indian coach — Syed Abdul Rahim.
But in the last 30 years, India has turned to foreign coaches from Spain, England, the Netherlands, and Croatia, rather than looking inward without much success. Now, Jamil has the chance to change that.
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